Should Lori slow the **** down?

[pchang]

Well, it's not like I can pay either way...

Don't worry. In science and engineering, people generally don't have to pay their own way through graduate school. My research position paid the tuition plus a small stipend.

[Jon Miller]

If Lori is at UMD someone is failing at advising if he thinks he would pay anything for graduate school.

The problem with graduate school is the income that you lose out because you are taking a low paying assistantship.

The only schools I have heard about that had problems paying their graduate schools are low ranked places like Mississippi and Hampton.

JM

[Jon Miller]

If Lori is at UMD someone is failing at advising if he thinks he would pay anything for graduate school.

The problem with graduate school is the income that you lose out because you are taking a low paying assistantship.

The only schools I have heard about that had problems paying their graduate schools are low ranked places like Mississippi and Hampton.

JM

[Lorizael]

I think there was some confusion in this thread. I was still talking about (paying for) my undergrad degree. I do understand what you're saying. No one has failed at advising me, because I generally do my best to avoid advising unless I've done something like failed a whole semester because I let my depression get the better of me.

[Lorizael]

...do you guys have any advice for getting into grad school, anyway? How to choose? Who to talk to? How not to be laughed out of the room?

[Jon Miller]

1. Do research
2. Be friends with your professors
3. Score well on the GRE/etc
4. Have a good grade point average

JM
(That is the order of importance too)

[Jon Miller]

How to choose:

Pick a graduate school in an area you like and where you like the professors or the professors are doing research you like.

And if you want to go into Academia make sure that graduate school is Harvard/etc.

Generally make at least 4 applications: a safe school, a long shot, and two schools that you think are most appropriate. I made 10 applications and got into University of Washington (Math), University of Washington (Physics), University of Minnesota (Physics), University of Maryland (Physics), and University of Missouri (?) (Mathematical Physics). There was a safe school (Duke?) that I didn't need (University of Missouri was also probably a 'Safe School'). I didn't get into Berkeley.

JM

[Lorizael]

1. Do research

I'm guessing Wikipedia doesn't count.

2. Be friends with your professors

I don't have any friends.

3. Score well on the GRE/etc

Well, anything can happen...

4. Have a good grade point average

I can probably manage that.

(That is the order of importance too)

Crap.

How to choose:

Pick a graduate school in an area you like and where you like the professors or the professors are doing research you like.

I guess I should really figure out what I like, then...

And if you want to go into Academia make sure that graduate school is Harvard/etc.

If I don't want to go into academia, what's the point of grad school? (That sounds flippant, but I'm genuinely curious.)

(Thanks.)

[Jon Miller]

If I don't want to go into academia, what's the point of grad school? (That sounds flippant, but I'm genuinely curious.)

Because you want to be a scientist but don't want to dedicate your life to it? If you can get your PhD in 5 years, then your salary upon leaving academia should be similar to those who went into the private sector right away (it isn't as costly as taking 6, 7 or 8 years).

Additionally, there are non-academic scientist positions (both in the private sector and public sector) where Harvard is not as important.

JM

[Dinner]

1. Do research
2. Be friends with your professors
3. Score well on the GRE/etc
4. Have a good grade point average

JM
(That is the order of importance too)

I would listen to Jon because he knows what he is talking about.